Now, when we go RVing we really use that time to commune, not only with nature and my family, but with other RVers as well. After all, camping is about getting away from some of the usual traps at home, i.e. plopping down on the couch and zoning out in front of the TV. However, there are going to be times while out in your new or used RV that a little television is EXACTLY what you’d like to relax with. Of course one of the problems with that is getting a good signal…until now.

This fully portable satellite is easy to use and is affordable. Great for tailgating parties, RVing, camping, backyard BBQs, trucking, races, vacation homes, cabins and more. For it’s own protection and your convenience, the unit is self contained in its fully enclosed case. The case has a twist off cap that provides an easy way to fill the top portion with water or sand for stability on windy days.

Plus, setup is really easy and has a built in bubble level, compass and elevation markings. The satellite TV antenna also includes 25 feet of coax cable for optimal antenna placement and is stored in the base for easy stowing.

As I’m sure you already know, this unit is for stationary use only and it works with Dish Network, Direct TV and Bell satellite services

If there’s one thing that is a common issue that we don’t really talk about too often, it’s tire failure in your RV. It’s more common that you think. Tire failure in your New or used RV can happen at anytime and it’s almost always a result of under, or over inflated tires. If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve blown a tire on your rig, you know how scary it can be. You also know how frustrating it is to have to replace that tire on the road. Not only do you lose trip time, but it can be dangerous changing that tire out on the side of a busy highway or interstate. Even still, do you even have a usable spare?

What if there was a system in place that can monitor you tire pressure at all time and alert you if you are running at low pressure, whereby virtually eliminating tire pressure related flats? Well you are in luck, PPL Motorhomes carries a great product that can alleviate the underlying stress of wondering if your tires are properly inflated and it’s called TireStat. TireStat is a commercial grade Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that is designed for RV’s,Trucks, Trailers, Buses, Off-Road, Construction, Utility Vehicles and Motor-Coaches. Proper tire inflation gives RV owners the ability to maximize fuel economy, improve tire wear and help alert you to a potentially dangerous low pressure condition all in an easy to install system. The TireStat is programmed to detect low pressure, high pressure, high temperature and rapid leaks using an exclusive rechargeable, Handheld Monitor which also functions as a portable tire gauge, which is pretty handy.

If you are an active RVer and you don’t have a tire pressure monitoring system on your RV, It might be something you may want to look into sooner than later. As most RVer’s already know, the last thing you want fouling up your new amazing RV adventure is a blown tire. If you have any questions about Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, don’t hesitate to give PPL Motorhomes a call and we can explain in detail the reasons why having one is a really good idea. Of course, if you’ve already had a blow out, then you already know how useful a monitoring system could have been.

I’ve been working with PPL Motorhomes for…well, for quite a long time now, and the stories that I remember the most from our customers are the one’s that involve going somewhere new. You see, taking the unbeaten path has the potential to add a lot of fond memories. For the sake of argument, I’m going to assume that almost everyone reading this post has read, or heard “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. If you can’t remember all the way back to High School, it’s the one that ends:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Let me first state that this is not an English lesson, or even a life lesson; it’s an RV lesson. Essentially, taken literally and in a language we can all understand, when the traveler in the poem comes upon a fork in the road he chose the unbeaten path. Why? The unfamiliar road was a detour where he could potentially find an entirely new world of sights, sounds and opportunities.

Vacationing? Remember, it’s not where you are going and fast you get there, but where you are going and HOW you get there. Some of my fondest traveling memories started as nothing more as just a fork in the road.

As I said above, at PPL Motorhomes, when we hear stories of new adventures, well, we just can’t help to feel like we were right there with them, as we too know what it feels like to take the roads less traveled. Can anyone share some good stories about taking the road less traveled?

This past year, Texas State Parks have experienced some of our worst luck ever: Blistering heat, drought and the worst wild fires in history. The damages we’re just monetary, although that number is absurdly substantial, it’s the lives that we’re affected the most, the lost of home, property and livestock. I won’t even mention the ecological toll it took.

There is always light at the end of the tunnel and RV Nana and PPL Motorhomes have seen a little of that light in an email that came across my “desk”. Please read below, I’ve reprinted it here in full and included links so you can help Central Texas get back on their feet. It’s one of the most beautiful places to RV and we want to do everything we can to help:

Dear Jennifer Vogt,

I am reaching out to you because you have been a supporter of Texas State Parks. As you may know, record drought and heat, devastating wildfires, and a drop in visitation have led to a critical situation for state parks.

As a result, we need $4.6 million to offset this shortfall and help keep these state parks open. Thankfully there are three simple ways to help:

Second, write in a donation of $5 or more to state parks on your vehicle registration form when you register your motor vehicle by mail, at your local county tax office, or online in counties which offer online payment.

Sincerely,Carter Smith
Executive Director
P.S. If you would like to keep up with what is happening in our state parks, I invite you to subscribe <www.tpwd.state.tx.us/email> to free email updates of your choice, including the State Parks Getaways e-newsletter and much more.

For more information on how you can help get our Texas State Parks back on their feet, just contact PPL Motorhomes, we can direct you to organizations that truly need your help.

This is wonderful information for the Texas RV owner and auto owner. I don’t know how many times we have gone into a state of panic the day before we are taking our trailer out when we happen to see that the license has expired. I think it goes back to the old out of sight, out of mind thought. Receiving an email notification will definitely get my attention and it’s better for me to notice the tag needs to be renewed by a friendly email reminder than have a police officer pull me over to tell me they have expired. However, if you misplaced or deleted your renewal notice you can still renew the registration if you provide your county tax office with:

Your license receipt from the previous year

Your license plate number, or

Your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN)

It’s just that easy. Also your county tax office can also send out another renewal notice to you as long as there’s enough time left before your registration is set to expire.

Now if you don’t think that renewing your tags isn’t all that important, then keep in mind that allowing your registration to expire keeps you from renewing online or by mail. Furthermore, you could receive a ticket (up to $200) if you drive the vehicle on expired tags beyond the five-day grace period.

YIKES! That’s a lot of tacos…

For most of us, forgetting to renew the tags on your RV or car isn’t an issue, just remember that it can cost you some big bucks if you let it go.

Have any questions or comments for RV Nana or PPL Motorhomes, leave us a comment or give us a call.

Family adventures are not new if you are a part of the RV community, but for those just starting to think about joining the RV lifestyle, consider all of the family reunions, cook-offs, historic sites, and folk festivals out there for you to experience. Some families plan all their RV travels around NASCAR races, or ball games. Your goal may be to get close to nature in a state park, or experience thrill-a-minute camping right inside Disney World. Whatever your trip, RV spells FUN for both kids and adults.

Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or a newbie, an owner or RV renter, everything changes when your kids or grandkids are on board. How can you keep ’em safe on the road while giving them an experience they’ll always remember?

Before You Go

How do you pack? Remember space is limited. When using campground bathrooms, it’s handy to have a bag with handles that can hang on a hook or nail. There is seldom enough clean, dry space to hold one’s toiletries, towel, washcloth, and change of clothes. Bring shower clogs, too.

RVs differ from other small vacation homes in one big way: They travel at highway speeds. So, everything must be firmly stowed before the RV moves. A toaster left on the counter top becomes a deadly missile in a panic stop. Left unlatched, a cupboard door opens when you round a corner and everything spills out.

It’s a good idea to have the youngsters can help with pre-start checklists just like the ones airline pilots use. And, have a fire drill so children know where all exits are. Many RVs have emergency window exits in addition to entry doors. Together, walk completely around the RV before starting up to make sure nothing is still hooked up, hanging out, or left behind.

On the Road

Buckle up. Seat belts — and perhaps a booster seat — are a must, whether or not RVs are required to have them in your state. If your RV doesn’t have belts for everyone on board, have them installed by an RV expert who knows where and how to anchor them. Seat belts rule even during naps. In our RV, no bathroom or refrigerator visits are permitted while the RV is in motion.

Look for roadside stops about once every 60 to 90 minutes. Let the kids loose to toss a ball, play Frisbee, and otherwise let off steam.

Enlist the kids as navigators. You’ll never hear “Are we there yet?” if you put the grandkids in charge of tracking your route on a map. Have them exercise their math skills by figuring out how far you’ve come, and how far to your next destination.

State-run welcome stations are always worth a special stop. They have clean rest rooms, plenty of parking space for big rigs, and free travel information, including campground brochures.

Be on alert for motion sickness. Visibility in the cockpit of an RV is excellent, but back-seaters see less of the view and more motion — such as swaying curtains or towels swinging on their racks. The chief antidotes to motion sickness are a good view of the horizon, plenty of fresh air and/or a motion sickness pill taken 30 minutes before the ride begins.

At theCampground.

The United States has about 16,000 campgrounds ranging from public lands to lavish resorts. Public parks offer more space but fewer amenities; resort campsites are usually crowded together.

Choose campgrounds that offer lots to do: swimming, playgrounds, miniature golf, fishing. Most commercial campgrounds also have a video arcade, pool table, or other hangout for teens. Resort campgrounds often feature hayrides, water slides, square dancing, tennis courts, and Wi-Fi access. State parks have ranger-led activities.

Mature, responsible kids might prefer to sleep in a tent next to the RV. Some campgrounds allow one RV and one tent per site.

Campgrounds have rules about pets, quiet hours, fires, pool hours and how many people can stay on one campsite. Respect them.

Have treats and games to bring out when kids get bored, keeping a few surprises in reserve for rainy days. Make popcorn. Teach kids to use a pie iron over the campfire. Practice scouting skills such as geo-caching and GPS hiking. Collect seashells or rocks. Make scrapbooks. Keep a journal. And remember that simply watching a campfire and telling tall tales in the dark still has amazing appeal.

Know who is responsible for each child at all times. In the outdoors, one of the best safety devices is a whistle for each person. Even small fry can whistle for help.

Everyone has more fun when the kids are part of the camping team. Assign age-appropriate chores.

Appetites swell outdoors. Be prepared to serve seconds, even to picky eaters.

Fancy campgrounds don’t allow clotheslines outdoors, so have a plan for dealing with all the wet swimsuits, damp towels, and soggy shoes.

Many young people today are inseparable from their electronics. Use this to your advantage by bringing wholesome movies on DVD or tuning in to helpful podcasts. Then again, you may want to consider banning cell phones and music players so the kids can focus on the people and places around them. RV Nana prefers this for her grandchildren. There is so much to see while RVing and you can’t do that with your head buried in your video game console.

Often I think about what the RV lifestyle has meant to me and to my family. Not just me and my husband, but our kids and our grandchildren. I can come up with a list that would take days for you to read; both positives and a couple of negatives. I try to picture my life without our RV…I can’t. I even try to picture our life without the simplest forms of travel…I can’t.

You see RVing is more than a lifestyle, it quickly becomes a passion. RVing is as much a part of you as the style of clothes you wear. For our family, going RVing is something that is as expected as the rising sun. I guess what I’m trying to say is that RVing for me and my family has been more than a blessing, it has been an entirely different life.

Our children grew up as we were learning the ropes, and our grandchildren are growing up around seasoned Vets now. There is no doubt in my mind that they too will not only continue with the RV lifestyle in their futures, but will have thousands of stories to tell about how they chose to be proponents of outdoor life.

As I reflect further, I realize that RVing is one of our last great frontiers. Not all of us can afford the million dollar price tag to be shot out into space for an hour, or whatever the new fad is. However, I’ve seen more “alien” worlds in our RV than most astronauts. Geysers, Giant Redwoods, amazing canyons, winding rivers and streams overflowing with life.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that instead of wishing your could find something different in life, why not stop searching and start traveling. You might be surprised that the peace of mind or life long experience you are looking for was just down the road.

When you are ready and want to buy your first RV or your fifth, give PPL Motorhomes a call first. We can educate, inform and we’re not to bad at a little entertainment either.

There are many reasons you should consign your RV through PPL Motorhomes, but 2 really stand out. First, you now have the opportunity to upgrade your current RV after your consigned RV sells. Second, it’s simply a great environmental choice. There is less waste involved in building a new product and there are still thousands upon thousands of miles left that RV can travel. Why pay more for new when you can get more for less at PPL Motorhomes?

RV Consignment has been the specialty of PPL Motor Homes since 1972 with the experience of selling over 24,300 consigned RVs. PPL is the Largest Consignment Dealer in the USA. Go to Ready to sell or watch this video, it has some really great information that I know you will not only find helpful, but might give you a little education about the consignment process that you didn’t know about.

Also, check out our booklet. It will give you all the information you’d ever need to know about consigning your RV…and it’s FREE!

When it comes to the bottom line, when you are looking for a new RV, but really don’t want to go through the hassle of finding a buyer for your old RV, let PPL Motorhomes do all of the work for you!

Since the year is just kicking off, I thought it might be a good time to discuss rules and regulations of parks across America. Tenants without rules quickly get out of hand, but too many rules make park living miserable for everyone. Rules must be enforced and enforced evenly for the most part or there is no point to them.

All RV parks must follow rules set down for them by the state and county. You see, not all of rules you see are of the park’s doing and quite often county bureaucrats who have never camped in their lives will try to apply rules to transient RV parks that make sense only for homeowners or benefit only nearby homeowners.

I’m a free spirit, but I do understand the need for rules. I don’t want to stay in a park where all the long-termers have bunches of broken stuff, or an entire living room set sitting outside their RVs. I agree with keeping things picked up and out of sight. I don’t want to stay in a park where children are running wild with no parental supervision at all. I don’t want to stay in a park with unmaintained ugly RVs. I like to see well maintained lawns. But I also like to see fellow RVers asserting their individuality and creativity with decorations, lawn ornaments, flags, lights (preferably solar powered), etc. I don’t have an issue with older rigs that still look decent or the usual BBQs, patio furniture, bikes, etc. being around. Rules can be good and healthy. However, sometimes parks can go too far when there is no flexibility.

This year, make it a point to know the rules of the park as well as voice any opinion you may have about certain park rules. You may find that there is nothing that the park can do about your complaint, but if they can, and you have a legitimate complaint, then voice your opinion. You will be helping that RV Park better understand the needs of it’s RVers. Just like we do at PPL Motorhomes.

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I have been with PPL Motor Homes since 1980 and have been fortunate enough to grow up with the company. A native Houstonian, I have been blessed with years of wonderful experiences and memories of RVing with family and friends. With 3 children, 8 grandchildren and a ton of friends who I refer to as my adopted family, I was a Nana long before I became RV Nana. I was blessed to have shared this lifestyle with my late husband, a Cajun from Lafayette, and his spirit will live on in all of us as we continue down the road of life.
My life with PPL has given me so many wonderful chapters, from sharing my RV experiences as RV Nana to working with the Texas Campground Owners Association and holding the position of President of the Texas RV Association from 2011-2013, so it’s easy to see that the RV lifestyle is my style. Watch for me on the road …I’m the one with the RV Nana license plates on my car and RV, and share your RV experiences with me. See you soon!